emollient
UK /ɪˈmɒl.ɪ.ənt/ · US /ɪˈmɑl.jənt/ noun, adjective
Forms emollients
- noun Something which softens or lubricates the skin; moisturizer.
- noun (figurative) Anything soothing the mind, or that makes something more acceptable.
- adjective Moisturizing.
- adjective (figurative) Soothing or mollifying.
Synonyms
Etymology
From French émollient, from Latin emolliēns, present active participle of ēmolliō (“make soft”), from ex- + molliō, from mollis (“soft”). By surface analysis, e- + Latin moll- + -i- + -ent.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Softening; making supple; acting as an emollient. "Emollient applications." Arbuthnot.
- noun An external something or soothing application to allay irritation, soreness, etc.
Etymology [L. emolliens, -entis, p. pr. of emollire to soften; e out + mollire to soften, mollis soft: cf. F. émollient. See Mollify.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “emollient”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details